Former Miami Heat employee accused of stealing LeBron James’ jersey
A former member of the Miami Police Department was accused of stealing player-worn jerseys and other items that were later sold online.
Sports memorabilia is incredibly meaningful to fans of all sports and certain items can fetch unimaginable values at auction. So much so that a former Miami Heat employee has just been charged by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida with stealing team property, including the jersey worn by LeBron James in Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals.
Former Heat security guard Marcos Thomas Perez appeared in court on charges of transporting and transferring stolen property in interstate commerce. The former Miami Police Department member was accused of stealing player-worn jerseys and other items that were later sold online.
62-year-old Marcos Thomas Perez, a former Miami Heat employee and retired 25-yr veteran of Miami Police, is accused of stealing hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia from an equipment room inside Kaseya Center
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) August 5, 2025
Federal officials say he sold 100+ items for $2… pic.twitter.com/CJUpgXwOzb
The Attorney General’s Office statement says Perez broke into Miami’s equipment room and stole more than 400 jerseys and other items. The most notable case involved the uniform James wore in Game 7 of the 2013 Finals. The defendant sold it for $100,000, and it was later sold through Sotheby’s for $3.7 million.
Authorities raided the home of Perez, 62, on April 3, 2025, and found nearly 300 items related to the Miami Heat. The team confirmed the items had been stolen from the premises.
The investigation of the case is being conducted by the FBI office in Miami and both the United States Postal Service and the Miami Police Department have assisted in its development.
It was a record-breaking day #SothebysNewYork!
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) January 27, 2023
LeBron James' game-worn jersey achieved $3.7M, breaking the previous record for a jersey of the athlete's by more than 5x.
Our Princess Diana Gown reached $604k, sealing its fate as the most valuable dress ever sold at auction. pic.twitter.com/qMTNBw26HP
How long did Marcos Thomas Perez work with the Miami Heat?
According to information from the District Attorney’s Office, Perez was employed by the Miami Heat from 2016 to 2021 as a security guard on game days at the Kaseya Center and was one of the few individuals allowed into the equipment room. He then worked for the NBA from 2022 to 2025.
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